Senior Firmware Engineer

Senior Firmware Engineer (FE)

Location: Rancho Cordova, CA
Employment Type: Full-time
On-site: Yes
Salary: $150,000 / year

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Senior Firmware Engineer to join a large Semiconductor Manufacturing and Technology Services company in the Rancho Cordova, CA area. This role focuses on SSD controller and firmware development with a strong emphasis on NVMe protocol stack architecture. The position involves designing and maintaining protocol stacks, implementing command processing, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and performing debug and validation activities.

Required Qualifications

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field

3+ years of experience in software/firmware applications engineering

3+ years of experience with SSD controller/firmware architecture

3+ years of experience in SSD controller and firmware development with strong knowledge of NVMe protocol stack architecture

Strong C/C++ programming and data structures experience in embedded software/firmware development

Hands-on experience with NVMe command processing, Submission/Completion Queues, PCIe Gen5, and NVMe protocol compliance

Strong experience with SMBus and/or I3C protocols, including command handling, data transfer, error detection, and recovery

Hands-on experience with firmware debugging and validation using JTAG/ICE debuggers, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and firmware logs

Experience with version control software such as Git

Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a small team

Willingness to learn quickly and work effectively as a team player

Strong oral, written, and presentation skills

Key Responsibilities

Design and maintain NVMe protocol stack including Admin and I/O command processing and Submission/Completion Queue management

Ensure compliance with latest NVMe specifications and PCIe Gen5 protocol requirements

Design and implement SMBus and I3C communication protocols for reliable data exchange

Implement NVMe command parsing, data transfer mechanisms, and completion flows

Implement proper status code reporting, Asynchronous Event Notification (AEN), and error recovery flows

Handle timeout, abort, and reset scenarios for system stability

Verify compatibility with industry-standard NVMe compliance tools and host platforms

Validate SMBus and I3C communication against JEDEC/MIPI specifications

Capture and analyze PCIe/NVMe transactions using protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and firmware logs

Collaborate with validation teams on compliance, stress, and corner-case tests

Provide root-cause analysis and implement fixes for protocol-related issues

Preferred Qualifications

Experience operating logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and bus protocol analyzers

Familiarity with SATA/PCIe (NVMe) protocols

Familiarity with NAND flash protocols

Linux system debugging experience

Fluency in reading and writing Mandarin preferred

Work Environment

Onsite in Rancho Cordova, CA

Fast-paced semiconductor manufacturing environment

Other Requirements

No Corp-to-Corp (C2C) arrangements

Visa sponsorship may be available on a case-by-case basis for qualified candidates whose skills and experience align with the position requirements

Relocation assistance may be considered on a case-by-case basis

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

401(k) - Employer Match